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The Life of Arthur, Prince of Wales
Arthur, Prince of Wales, was the eldest son of King Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York. Born on September 19/20, 1486, Arthur was viewed by contemporaries as the great hope of the newly established House of Tudor. His birth cemented the union between the House of Lancaster and the House of York. Arthur was well educated and was in good health for the majority of his life. He was formally betrothed to Catherine of Aragon, a daughter of the powerful Catholic Monarchs in Spain, in an effort to forge an Anglo-Spanish alliance against France and Scotland (according to Wikipedia).
The Marriage and Residence at Ludlow Castle
Soon after his marriage to Catherine in 1501, the couple took up residence at Ludlow Castle in Shropshire. Ludlow Castle was the traditional seat of the Prince of Wales. The couple established a small court there and seemed to be living a peaceful life (according to EnglishHistory.net).
Arthur, Prince of Wales Cause of Death
Arthur, Prince of Wales, died suddenly on April 2, 1502. He was only 15 years old at the time of his death. The cause of his death has been a subject of speculation and debate among historians. According to some sources, the cause of his death was the “sweating sickness”. This was a highly contagious and deadly disease that struck England particularly during the reign of Henry VII. The symptoms included fever, headache, and sweating, hence the name (according to Bing).
However, other sources suggest that Arthur might have died from tuberculosis, a common disease at the time that was often fatal. Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body. It is characterized by symptoms such as coughing, weight loss, and fatigue (according to britroyals.com).
There are also theories suggesting that Arthur may have suffered from some form of cancer or possibly consumption (according to The Tudor Society). However, the exact cause of Arthur’s death remains unknown.
The Aftermath of Arthur’s Death
Arthur’s death was a significant event in English history. It led to the ascension of his younger brother, Henry VIII, to the throne. The question over whether Arthur and Catherine had consummated their marriage was later exploited by Henry VIII in order to cast doubt upon the validity of Catherine’s union with him, eventually leading to the separation between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church (according to Wikipedia).
In conclusion, the cause of Arthur, Prince of Wales’s death remains a mystery. Whether it was the sweating sickness, tuberculosis, or some other disease, his untimely death changed the course of English history.
